Package for fragile articles



April 16, 1940. w RINGLER 2,197,510

PACKAGE FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 8, 1937' a Shgets-Sheet 1 4 I .1 jg 206 164 16 16% V 19 25 14 2o 25 24 a 24 ATTORNEY April 16, 1940. w. A. RINGLER PACKAGE FOR-FRAGILE ART ICLES 2 sheat -g 2 U llirllll I!!! ,0 )ill I! (ll IIII"! Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE tional Folding Box Company, New Haven,

Conn, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 8, 1937, Serial No. 173,275

'8 Claim.

This invention relates to a package for fragile articles, and more particularly to a package for electric bulbs and like fragile articles wherein the articles can be quickly and economically packaged and protected from injury during shipment, storage and merchandising.

Fragile articles, such as electric light bulbs, radio tubes, and the like, often become broken if not properly cushioned, and protected from shocks and blows delivered to the package. This invention is directed to a simple package adapted to contain any desired number of fragile articles, such as electric light bulbs, which package requires a small amount of paperboard to produce, which can be made and assembled substantially automatically, and in which the bulbs can be easily and quickly inserted;-

Another feature of this invention comprises the economical packaging of electric light bulbs and similar fragile articles each contained within an individual cell so constructed as to retain the individual articles in separated spaced relationship and cushioned from one another, which articles are also held in spaced cushioned relationship with respect to the surrounding protective side walls of the package.

A package constructed in accordance with my invention results in a substantialsaving of paperboard over packages previously used for this purpose, and is so constructed that the bulbs are contained in individual cells which may be charged with bulbs at a high production rate and which are retained within and spaced from the side walls of the package so as to provide a protective cushion for each individual bulb. further means being provided to retain the bulbs in suspended position and out of contact with the surface upon which the package is positioned.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a prepared blank which has been suitably cut and scored to permit shaping thereof into a zigzag shaped partition defining bulb-receiving cells;

Fig. 2 is a face view of a prepared blank made from corrugated paperboard from which the outer tubular bulb-containing member may be made; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled outer tubular member about to receive the assembled partition provided with bulbs in its rerespective cells;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a partition member formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2, this view showing the socket end of a bulb inserted through a retaining aperture therein, this view illustrating particularlythe means used for securing the bulbs to the partition member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the partition and bulb assembly completely inserted in the outer tubular shell and ready to receive an end-closing sleeve;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the completed bulb package, this view being taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and as it would appear when the sleeve is assembled thereon;

Fig. 7 is" a transverse cross-sectional view through the bulb package, this view being taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view'of a bulb package of modified construction, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate certain structural features thereof.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and the specification.

My improved bulb package comprises generally a tubular outer member or shell A which may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material, shown in Fig.2, which tubular member receives a partition member B arranged therein in zigzag shape to provide individual bulb-receiving cells. The outer tubular member-forming blank may be substantially rectangular in contour and may be out and scored by means of an automatic cutting and scoring machine from large sheets or rolls of paperboard material. The blank as shown in Fig. 1 is formed of two layers of sheet material, the inner layer comprising corrugated paperboard c which is secured by adhesive 9 to a sheet of paper s having a relatively high tensile strength. The blank may be scored or folded along the vertically extending crease lines 5 so as to provide side wall sections I and 2 and end wall sections 8 and 4. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the blank may be assembled into tubular form by securing the free vertical edge of the end wall section d to the free vertical edge of the side wall section I by any suitable means, as by means of an adhesive strip or stay member 6.

The partition member formed from the prepared blank as shown in Fig. 1 comprises any desired number of wall sections, such as wall sections H, [2 and I3 hinged to partition sections l4 and i5 along the score lines 56. A bracing flap i1 is hinged to the wall section H at one end of the blank along the score line l6 and a bracing flap i8 is hinged to the wall section l3 at the other end of the partition member along the score line H3. The Wall sections ll, l2 and I3 are each provided with cut-out tab portions i9, 20 and 2i respectively, each defined from its respective wall section by cut lines 22,23 and 24,extending around three sides of the tab, thus leaving the tab l9 rigidly connected to the partition section l6 and the tabs 28, ii rigidly connected to the partition section E5. The wall section H is provided with end extensions i la. extending slightly beyond the side edges of the partition section M; the wall section i2 is likewise provided with end sections i2a extending a distance beyond the side edges of the sections it and i5, and likewise the wall section 53 is provided with end extensions l a ex tending beyond the side edges of the partition section iii. The function performed by the end extensions Ha, Ha and Ba will be explained hereinafter.

In assembling the bulbs in the partition-forming strip, the strip is first bent ino generally zigzag form as shown in Fig. 3. When so bent, it will be noted that the tab l9 will be lifted out or the wall section it and extend generally laterally thereto, leaving an aperture I9a into which the test end t of the bulb B is inserted. The side edges Nb and We of the opening l9a are so spaced as to grip the screw threads t of the socket end t ofthe bulbB so as to rigidly suspend the bulb B from the aperture I911. The shaping of the partition strip into zigzag form likewise causes the tab 20 to extend laterally from the wall section l2 providing an opening 20a adapted to receive the socket end t of another bulb B The side edges 20b and 20c of the aperture 20a are so spaced as to frictionally retain the socket end if in the aperture 20a. strip into zigzag form also causes the tab 2i forming an extension of the partition section IE to project laterally from the wall section l3, forming an aperture Zla for the reception of the test end t of bulb B The side edges 2lb and 2|c of the aperture 2la are so spaced and arranged as to frictionally grip the threaded portion t of the socket end t of the bulb B so as to rigidly secure the bulb B to the partition strip.

The bulbs B B and B may be quickly inserted into the apertures in the wall sections il, l2 and i3 respectively by merely inserting the socket end t of the bulbs therein. The side edges of the apertures frictionally grip the screw threads t of the socket end if of the bulb so that the bulbs cannot be removed from the partition strip until a substantial pulling force is exerted on the bulbs. This insertion operation can be performed at a high production rate. As high as one thousand bulbs per hour can be inserted into the partition strips by a single operator. This insertion operation is also well adapted to be performed mechanically with further increase of production speed.

When the bulbs have thus been applied to the partition strip, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the parti- Shaping of the partition tion and bulb assembly is telescoped into the outer tubular member A in a manner shown in Fig. 3. During the telescoping movement the bracing flaps H and I8 will-slide downwardly along the inside face of the end walls 3 and 4 of the tubular member A. When the partition and bulb assembly have been fully inserted within the outer tubular member A, the bracing flaps I! and [8 will resiliently spring outwardly so as to seat within the adjacent depression la provided in the corrugated paperboard. Thus, the outer edg 2 Ha of the flap l'l will automatically seat within the adjacent depression la formed in the corrugated lining c of the tubular member, and, like wise, the outer edge 18a of the flap l8 upon release will spring into seating position within the adjacent parallel extending corrugated groove la. It will be noted that the horizontally extending abutments 1b adjacent the corrugated grooves la abut the adjacent ends of the flaps H and i8 respectively, preventing any further movement of the partition and bulb assembly in one direction, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The end extensions I la, Ho and l3a may be so shaped as to seat within the adjacent groove la formed in the corrugated liner 0 of the outer tubular member, and the adjacent corrugated abutments lb extending parallel to the end extensions Ha, Ma and But further resist any movement of the partition and bulb assembly within the outer tubular member. It will be appreciated that the corrugated abutments lb formed of paperboard are to some extent resilient, permitting the partition and bulb assembly to be forced or driven into housed position within the outer tubular member. When the partition and bulb assembly have been properly arranged and housed within the outer tubular member A, any movement of the bulb-supporting partition is strongly resisted by the corrugated abutments which overhang the respective extensions Ila, l2a and l3a.

An important feature of this invention also comprises the rovision of the laterally extending tabs i9,'20 and 2! which provide supporting feet which further assist in supporting the bulbs assembled in their partitions out of contact with any supporting surface W upon which the package is positioned. By referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and '7, it will be noted that the tab supports [9 and 2| are of greater length than the socket portion t of the adjacent bulb which it supports, so that the socket end of the bulb is at all times maintained out of contact with the supporting surface W upon which the package is positioned. In like manner the tab support 20 projects laterally from the other open end of the tubular outer member, the supporting tab 20 also being of greater length than the adjacent socket end t of the adjacent bulb. Ifzthe package is inverted into position shown in Fig. 6; the supporting tab 20 will likewise support the adjacent ends of the respective bulbs out of contact with the supporting surface W.

If desired, the outer tubular member A which contains the partition and bulb assembly may be provided with an end-closing sleeve C, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, to close the open ends of the outer tubular member A. Such closing sleeve may be simple in construction, and may be formed of a single blank of paperboard material, either corrugated or uncorrugated paperboard, and comprising end-closing sections 3| and 32 connected by connecting portions 33 and 34 extending over the end walls 3 and t of the tubulid dil

dti

lid

lar member A. An adhesive strip 35 may be provided to secure the adjacent ends of the end-closing section 3! and the connecting section 34 together. The sleeve C may, be easily slipped over the tubular member A. Other convenient means may also be used to close the' open ends of the outer member A.

Where an end-closing sleeve 0 is used, it will be apparent that the supporting tabs It and ii are designed to rest against the inside face of the adjacent end-closing section 32 of the end-closing sleeve, while the tab support it will likewise rest against the adjacent end-closing section 3i of the end-closing sleeve. Thus the adjacent ends of the bulbs are fully cushioned and protected from injury resulting from blows delivered to the end-closing sections 3i and 32.

If desired, the outer tubular member A may be formed from ordinary cardboard, as illustrated in Fig. 8, which outer tubular member is here designated A. The outer tubular member A may be formed from a single blank of cardboard comprising side wall sections ii and it and end wall sections t2 and it suitably connected together. It will be noted that side wall sections it and W are provided with slits #36 to receive the end extensions Ha of the end section I i of the partition B and is likewise provided with slits t'l to receive the end extensions lid and slits it to receive the end extensions l3a. As thus constructed, the partition B and the bulbs pocketed in the cells thereof are fixedly held within the outer tubular member. In this construction, also, an outer endclosing sleeve made from cardboard may be provided, comprising end-closing sections b2 and it which are connected by connecting sections 53 and M which extend over the end walls t2 and it. The modified construction shown in Fig. 8 is otherwise similar'to the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

It will be noted that the partition section it maintains the adjacent bulbs B and B in fixed spaced relationship so that the bulbs cannot come into contact which might result in breakage. Likewise, the partition section lb retains the adjacent bulbs B and B in fixed spaced relationship so that they are cushioned against shocks delivered to the package. In the same manner, the bracing flaps It and it space the adjacent bulbs B and 18 respectively from the end walls of the outer tubular member so that the bulbs B and B are iully protected from injury resulting from shock delivered to the end walls of the package. The partition sections it and it are also so shaped as to frictionally grip the adjacent bulbs, retaining them in fixed position within the cells formed by the zigzag shaped partition. The bulbsB, B and B are further held in spaced fixed relationship between the side walls oi the outer tubular member A and A by the end extensions, Ma, its and lid associated with the wall sections ll, it and it respectively.

Thus it will be noted that each bulb is packaged in an individual cell and each is held in fixed spaced relationship from the respective surrounding walls of the outer tubular member and also held in fixed spaced relationship relative to one another. The bulbs are thus fully protected from damage resulting from shocks which may be delivered at any point against the surrounding containing walls, and the bulbs are further arranged in spaced cushioned relationship from one another so that blows delivered to or against one side wall or the outer tubular member cannot be transmitted to either the adjacent bulb or to succeeding bulbs. It will be further noted that the bulbs are at all times held out of contact with the container walls and also out of contact with the supporting surface upon which the package may be positioned by the tab supports I9, 20 and 2| respectively.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for fragile articles including, a tubular outer member, a partition member folded to provide a pluralit of spaced individual article-receiving cells within said tubular member, and lug portions projecting laterally from said partition member engaging projections on the tubular walls of said outer tubular member to retain the said partition and articles supported by said partition in fixed suspended position within said outer member whereby withdrawal of said partition and articles through the 7 open ends of said tubular outer member is resisted.

, open ends thereof is resisted.

3. A package for electric light bulbs including a tubular outer mdlnber, a partition member formed from a single blank of paperboard material folded to provide a plurality of spaced individual bulb-receiving cells within said tubular member, and supports cut out from said partition member each defining an opening into which the socket oi the bulb extends, means adjacent a peripheral edge of each of said openings operative to engage the socket end of the bulb thereby to secure the bulb to said partition member, said supports extending substantially parallel to the socket end of said bulbs, said supports being" operative to retain said bulbs spaced-from the adjacent surface upon which said supports rest.

a. A package for electric light bulbs including, a bulb supporting partition member formed lid from a. single blank of paperboard material ina cluding, wall sections arranged in staggered re lationship, a tab cut out from each of said Wall sections providing an opening through which the socket end of the bulb extends, each of said wall sections-having an edge portion adjacent the opening therein which engages the socket end of the bulb thereby to secure the bulb to the wall section, partition sections connecting adjacent staggered wall sections and defining individual cells for said bulbs, and a tubular outer member enveloping and containing said partition and bulb assembly, said tabs projecting laterally along the acfiacent socket end of the bulb to support the bulb out of contact with the surface on which said tabs rest. 1

Kill

tionship,

5. A package for fragile articles including, a partition member formed from a single blank of paperboard material adapted to provide a support for fragile articles, said partition member being folded to provide a plurality of spaced wall sections alternately arranged in staggered relameans associated with said wall sections for securing an article thereto, partition sections connecting adjacent wall sections so as to provide a plurality of individual article-receiving cells, a tubular outer member'enveloping said partition and article assembly, means projecting laterally from said partition engaging the adjacent side walls of said outer tubular member for retaining said partition and article assembly in suspended position therein, and supports cut out from said wall sections operative to retain the-fragile articles spaced from the adjacent surface upon which said supports rest.

6. A package for electric light bulbs and like fragile articles including, a partition member formed from a single blank of paperboard material, said partition member being folded to providea plurality of spaced wall'sections arranged 7. A package for electric light bulbs including, a partition member formed from a blank of paperboard material, said partition member being folded to provide a plurality of spaced wall sections arranged. in alternate staggered relationship, each of said wall sections having an opening adapted to receive the socket end of an individual bulb, cooperating means associated with each of said wall sections for r pping and fixedly retaining the socket end of the bulb secured to the adjacent wall section, a tubular outer member enveloping said partition andbulb assembly, projections extending laterally from said wall. sections engaging the adjacent side walls of said tubular outer member for securing the partition and bulb assembly therein, and supports extending from said wall sections operative to retain the fragile articles spaced from the adjacent surface upon which said supports rest.

8. A package for electric light bulbs including, a partition member formed from a blank of paperboard material, said partition member being folded to provide a plurality of spaced wall sections arranged in alternate staggered relationship, each of said wall sections having a tab cut out therefrom forming an opening through which the socket end of the bulb extends, each wall section having an edge portion adjacent the opening therein which engages the socket end of the bulb thereby to secure the bulb to the wall section, and a tubular outer member containing said partition and bulb assembly, said tabs cut from said partition being operative to support the ends of said bulbs out of contact with the surface upon which said tabs rest.

"i i A. RINGLER. 

